Anoma enters its third chapter with the Optical
Russell Sheldrake- Anoma releases its third standard production piece, the A1 Optical
- Inspired by the Optical art movement, it has a wavy dial made of concentric triangles engraved into it.
- The first 300 will be individually numbered and will come with a matching piece of art.
Anoma has been one of those new micro brands that has captured the attention of the collector core quicker than nearly all others. It was with the sculptural forms of the A1 that Anoma set itself apart from the others, and now it is bringing artistic influences to the dial in a way that would only make sense for Anoma. In this third production model, Anoma has reimagined its dial, having the entire surface be overtaken with a wavy, engraved design that draws its influence from the Optical art movement.
We’ve seen this exact design from Anoma already, when they produced a unique piece for the TimeForArt auction last year, but this time we have two different dial colours that don’t require the multiple layers of lacquer that we had then. With both copper and silver dials available, they have a matching pattern made of concentric triangles engraved into the surface. To achieve the founder of Anoma, Matteo Violet Vianello told me that he had to work with the dial manufacture in Switzerland to develop a new machining technique that ensured crisp, clean lines, without the classical marks a CNC would produce and disrupt the optical effect.
The outcome of this development work was these dials that once they have been engraved, get sandblasted and then polished by hand, in fact with a toothbrush, to given them the highest shine possible in every groove. According to Matteo, this process has to be done by hand and judged by eye to ensure it matches with the prototype that’s been produced. This goes some way to explaining the continued price rise from the original A1, to the A1 Slate, and now we see another increase in the A1 Optical. But the shift in value should be clear for all to see.
To maximise the effect of this dial all markings have been forgone. A brave move for a young brand to leave all branding off the dial, but despite only being three standard production watches into their existence, the Anoma shape seems pretty set and recognisable with the watch community at this point.
Besides the two new dial options not a lot has changed. We still have a Japanese steel case that is machined in China and inside is the Sellita SW100 automatic calibre. And as was the case before, the first batch of these watches ordered will be individually numbered, while any ordered above that number will be standard production.
To double down on this watch’s connection to the world of Optical art, Anoma has teamed up with Optical artist Adam Fuhrer and commissioned a special artwork that uses the dial’s pattern as its base. The first 300 pieces to be ordered of the A1 Optical will not only be individually numbered, but they will come with a numbered print of Adam’s artwork. A wonderful addition to thank those early supports who are quick off the mark when the orders open 7th August.
Anoma A1 Optical pricing and availability
The new Anoma A1 Optical order window will open 7th August at 14:00 GMT exclusively through the brand’s website. The first 300 (150 copper, 150 silver dials) will be individually numbered and have a matching artwork print. Price: £2,200 (excl. duties and taxes).
| Brand | Anoma |
| Model | A1 Optical |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm x 38mm (D) x 9.45mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front |
| Dial | Silver or copper engraved |
| Strap | Grey grained Italian leather |
| Movement | Sellita SW100 |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Functions |
Hours, minutes
|
| Availability | Orders open 7th August 14:00 GMT, first 300 individually numbered |
| Price | £2,200 |